Coated valve member



5 Sheets-Sheet l R. FORTUNE COATED VALVE MEMBER May 12, 1953 RFORTUNE 2,538,309

coATEn VALVE MEMBER Filed oct. 29, 1949 s sheets-sheet 2' Irwenor Po/VALD fbg-rams Aryj R. FoRTUNE'l COATED VALVE MEMBER v May 12,' 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed ct. 29, 1949 May 12, 1953 R. FORTUNE COATED vALvE MEMBER 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 29, 1949 May 12, 1953 R. r-oRTuNE coA'rEn VALVE MEMBER '5 Sheets-sheet 5 Filed oct. 29, 1949 E Po/vA/.D @Pra/v; y Aiil'g/S?4 l x I law( Patented May 12, 1953 STATES PATENT GQATEDALVEI l Ronald Fortune Hamilton Quienes.. Genade Applikation Qotobel? 29, 19495.. N01

'of my appleaton, Serial No. 3,1,.11'7. filed June. 4J

i948', vvhien is a. divisional; ennliootion ofE U. S annotation. Seniat No 5.143.424 tiled@ Deeembev MA 19.43., since abandoned, also forms a continue Mmmm-partei myanpleation Serial. No. 73:7541 ined November 2.2; 194K:

Diaphragm valves: un to the present time have teleely' been of et who wherein the.y diaphxagm. has fonmectv a Valve rnemben means of which the um@ fiovv through .he body is throttle@ or es; type ot oonstluoton thediapheesm neoeosa been squeezed, between. iaoes of. the valve body am the valve onere-tine Spindle one associated mechanism. Bin on seeeezing of the d'ephmaem; between two solid. members rapidly deteriorates the. rub,` ben or other flexible 1.11e1'Lerialy of the diaphxegm eno more especially when the valve is elesee or long eeviods or when the dispuesto is. repeatedly opened o1? closed in daily service.

Many ooids, oils orA solvents, are mherently destructive to, Izubhen. synthetic and other fabri- I cateo`4 materials.. and the life of. thesematelials is more rapidly shortened when the. diaphragm. is. Gamed prematurely to. Wear or deteriorate by heine squeezed or oompltessed between two. Solid metal.y members suoli that tuds of the. oheveeter speeieo more easily attack it. For this reason it is.. mote deseable to employ evolve structure having a sepaate valve member. This obviates 'the mein. disadvantage of. the more usual type of. dianhitaslnvelve for corrosive uids eine@ it avoids the 'squeezing of the diaphragm between two. solid members. However, when thevaive is employed for oontnoling Hui-fd flow 'Wheier-iY thel fluid vcarries particles in suspension on entrained solids, the lat-ter `may tend to ilod'ge between the and the valve member paiutcusarly when the valve member is mowed' from theiclosed to muy: open position.

It is thai-etere an uejeet. fof the. invention to provide a valve :cn-einher having a rifsgi'd (crore, Joy which the same may lhe me eooesedvv a. 'ocation or tow-.ev Whoh vesiofut to 'damse by eonrosive .uuifos and abrasion by nartiolee .o f rieti suspension )by the luid passing through the valve., l

.Another object of the invention is. te. provide, avalve. mem-hey of this novel. ol-ess wherein the visio. oeee temeeof the valve ,Q is the to. ..1 evteuoine about the rigid oo amo oomiolet isoJetine the late teo: oorosa. 4e. action.. o

el fuxthet oheot of the invention to provide n es be which. the @the valve. Ixfa Socket for veoeivins o. th ded. .11. esel. stud extending valve member but which in either case includes. .an 5.1191411. clerextenoiueabout the means adepte@ to he tightly against the phragm to oeottat region of the lettere this beine. eifiootiveat ellpositious of the valve valve not A further object of the mventigonjs to provide a. valve.-

-hevme elastomer eeotihe. eX- iterative-f;A about et lieto, onse the eoxe passages, sockets, recesses, or suitable ingente: tions foxA aoeommodetme en enehoring emotion of the. elestolnev matenat iov loom the eoatine to Kleid oore- A still further object of the istolalgog video valve a yield. ooveln etastorne, onetime. one means .Home from the surf-eee oi the. vozlve member to provide a which will evoicl. Cloe, l .ef lately the. oase volete soliti rbe suspende@ in the Huid, nasse@ onA valve A Still uvthevobieor of thefiuventieo to nroe visie a valve. hovlrlgy meensrioine the .other es betere. inolu 'n nesilienttherebetween evotuoev as flexiue to.. more emeiently disoheo'ee ohetruotog' materiel from linnen of. the; valve between the. latter and thead'eoent @Lief @i1-Peers. This form o: valve member may in: elude ,pressure balancing means therevviitmn es o pressurized air member in. the rigid. oore oonmuueatine wththe euxfooe-offthe free ezuns. ateos,

h. these eno; other ohieots. in view the inf vennen leet.letally oompmes o Coated veuveA .meme het the .form of tis-id rlotudiue means foy the earne., means. termed about the mounting means constituting the of. the elastomer ooatne eieotive. .fox ySeel-ine emotion in oouiunoton. with a valve diephreg-m.

valve having a valve member of the invention mounted therein.

Figure 2 is an enlarged partial sectional View of a valve member, diaphragm and valve ram assembly wherein the valve member is of a modified form.

Figure 3 is a partial sectional View of a valve of the angle type illustrating the necessary modification of the valve member of this invention for service in a valve of this class. i p

Figure 4 is a sectional view of the preferred type of rigid core for a valve member of the type shown in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a sectional View of a complete valve member of this preferred type..

Figure 6 is a sectional view of a valve of the V type illustrating modifications of a valve member according to the invention for installation in a valve of this class.

Figure 7 is an enlarged sectional View of the preferred structure of a valve member suitable for a valve of the type shown in Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a sectional View of a further modification of a valve member according to the invention mounted within the valve of the through type partially shown. t In this case the valve member is of the type having free flexing areas.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of a further modified form Vof valve member of the type shown in Figure l having means rising upwardly from the upper surface thereof.

Figure l is a sectional view of a further modified form of valve member having free flexing areas including interior pressure control.

Figure 11 is a sectional view of a simple form of an elastomer covered valve member according to the invention.

' Figure l2 is a sectional view of a further modined form of the type of valve member shown in Figure 9.

i Figure 13 is a sectional perspective View of a further modified form of valve member having means rising from the upper surface thereof for 'a clearing function.

Referring to the drawings and particularly to Figure l, the letter A indicates a valve body havingv an inlet passage Il] extending from the mounting ange I I to the intermediate communieating passage I2 between the inlet and outlet passages, the latter of which is not shown. A chamber I3 is formed in the valve body A and surrounds the nozzle I t to enclose and define the passage I2. The chamber I3 in turnis dened and enclosed by the fiexible diaphragm I which is employed as a seal isolating the bonnet B1 from I the valve body A and clamped between the flanged surfaces I6 and I1 of the body A and bonnet B respectively, the assemblage being held together by suitable bolts i8; Fluid control is effected by means of a valve member C, lthe latter being mounted inwardly of the diaphragm I5 and centrally of the passageway I2 and being designed to move toward or away from the valve` seat I9'. The valve member C has an upper convex lsurface 2t designed to mate with the inner surface 2l of the diaphragm i5 when the valve is in the open position.

The valve member C is mounted from the slidable ram 22 preferably by means of the screw 23 which passes through an orifice at the base of the partially screw-threaded bore (not shown) of the ram and enters into threaded engagement with the valve member C. As is illustrated in more detail in Figure 2 a double union joint is formed between the ram and the Valve member Where the latter include female cone components or sockets in the form of recesses 2li and 25 respectively. The screw 23 therefore operates to lock oppositely projecting coaxial male component cones 'it in the form of central annular enlargements in the diaphragm I5 as shown, to form a co-axially opposed double union joint concentric with the central axis of the ram and valve member. Pref erably, a separate pressure limiting bushing 2l' surrounds the screw 23 in this central. union area designed to prevent the diaphragm from being iniuriously compressed but insuring a perfect 'uid seal of particularly simple character and wherein the double union connection is fully protected by the base of the ram and the top central area of the valve member C. To this end the upper surface of the valve member preferably incorporates an annular sealing face il which cooperates with a similar annular sealing face on the ram 22 to tightly grip the diaphragm about the annular central enlargement thereof. Cooperating sealing faces of this character are preferred in a valve member according to the invention whether or not the diaphragm I5 of the type having an enlargement 26 about the central hole therethrough is employed.

As disclosed in my prior applications referred to, the diaphragm is designed to be supported against pressure from within the valve body A during its closed position and in its movement to and from the closed position by means of a follower plate 36 which is preferably formed integral with the ram 22 and designed to constitute a circumferential projection extending radially from the lower end of the ram. The inner surface 3l of the follower plate is substantially convex and designed to mate with the concaved outer surface 32 of the diaphragm when the diaphragm is in the closed position as illustrated in Figure l. Suitable posts 33 may be formed on the extremi ties of the follower plate to support compression springs 34 which rise to seat within the recesses 35 (see Figure l) formed in thetop of the bon net B, The ram 22 is slidable in the bore 36 of the guide cylinder 3l and carries an internally threaded portion (not shown) designed for threaded engagement with the threads 38 of spinolle 35i thereby assuring alignment of the ram in its movement between the extreme open and extreme closed positions. The arrangement tends to reduce the effort required at the handwheel 39a to close the valve by means of the compresn sion springs which act to reduce the thrust load between the threads of the spindle and the ram and exert a residual mechanical compression within the bonnet.

Further means of reducing the effort required at the handwheel 39a in closing the Valve against pressure is provided by the inwardly projecting annular ring or inwardly projecting iiange fr@ of the valve body designed inwardly to support the inner surface 2| of the diaphragm adjacent to its periphery, in effect therefore to reduce the total area of the inner surface 2l of the diaphragm projected against the pressure of fluid from within the valve thereby reducing the total pressure against the diaphragm in direct proportion to the reduction of the exposed surface area. This characteristic is followed also in the valve body formations in the angle valve of Fi.,- ure 3 and the Y type valve of Figure 6 hereinafter to be described in more detail. In respect to the three general types of valves, however, the same bonnet may be employed, there being only cussed. In any case, some form of sealing face on the valve member should'be provided in annular form about the mounting means Whether it be in the form of an annular recess or a simple face, so that the corrosive fluid will not nd its Way to the rigid core.

Thus in Figure l1 a particularly simple type of valve member is provided in the form of a rigid core 83 having passages 84 therethrough to form a means of locking the covering material 85 to the core. The upper surface 85'of the valve member incorporates an annular sealing face 81 extending about the seat 88 of the core formed about the threaded socket 39. Preferably the thickness of the covering in the region of the annular sealing face 81 is greater than the depth of the seat 8B so that thc covering in this region extends above the surface of the seat 88 to provide predetermined pre-compression of the elastomer coating in this region to more effectively promise the necessary sealing qualities.

Figure 9 discloses the valve member C of Figure l in more detail. The rigid core 90 is of simple form having a recess 9| and a pressure limiting shoulder 92. The elastomer coating or covering 93, extends about the rigid core and is formed to provide the conical recess 94 and annular sealing face 95. Diaphragm supporting members 96 in the form of radially and outwardly extending supporting arms or ribs rise from the upper surface of the valve member leaving therebetween comparatively generous clearances as between the valve member and the diaphragm when the valve is in the open position. This construction tends to obviate the lodging of impurities or the retention of acid or corrosive liquid between the valve member C and the diaphragm i5 when the valve member is only slightly open and provides a progressive engagement function of the diaphragm supporting members with the diaphragm as the valve is opened.

When the valve member is in a position where the valve is only slightly open for substantially long periods there can be a tendency for dense solids or sticky ingredients to cling to the upper surface of the valve member or to build up between this surface and adjacent surfaces of the diaphragm. This disadvantage is obviated largely by the convexed upper surface of the various forms of valve member illustrated herein `and with the assistance of the velocity of fluid passing through the valve to shed solids into the flow. However, if such solids or sticky ingredients should adhere to or build up on this upper surface, they are accommodated by this valve without seriousiy aiecting the eilciency of operation. In this connection, a further modified form of valve member for particularly difficult conditions is proposed herein and which embodies a pneumatic membrane or web preferably of an elastic substance such as rubber. One form of valve member having such characteristics is illustrated in Figure 10 wherein the rigid core 91 has an inner annular chamber 98 in communication with an annular channel 99 by suitable holes |00. The threaded spindle socket communicates to a pressure chamber |02 by way of conventional check valve mechanism |03, the chamber |02 being in communication with the annular chamber 98 by way of a suitable passageway |04. An elastomer covering |05 extends about the rigid core 91 to terminate in the recess |06 to provide an annular sealing surface |01. The elastomer covering extending freely over the channel 99 forms a flexible membrane or web |08. In this constructionthe chamber 98 is pre-charged with air to cause a slight outward bulging of the web area |08 for a cushioning action. After the valve member is assembled air pressure is provided in the chamber 98 by way of the check valve |03. In this way, therefore, the valve member may be charged with airto provide for a desired internal pressure to accentuate the flexing action of the covering in the web area |08. The exible web action will serve to positively project particles which may have lodged on the upper surface of the valve member therefrom during movement of the valve from partially open to full closed position.

As a result of this pneumatic construction of valve member any solid particles which may have been trapped between the valve member and the diaphragm will not restrict the full opening of the valve as the trapped ingredients become pocketed in the iiexed portion or web |08 of the elastomer covering subtending the annuler channel 9G. The lodged particles Will be automatically released immediately the Valve member and inner surface of the diaphragm are parted due to the reexing or opposite flexing movement of the covering.

The pneumatic principle may be adapted in a limited manner to a valve member form of the type shown in Figure 9 by modifications of the type disclosed in Figure l2. In this latter figure the rigid core |09 incorporates the annular chamber He which is in communication with a plurality of spaced-apart pockets on the upper surface of the core by means of a plurality of holes i2. In all other respects the construction of the valve member is similar to that described in reference to Figure 9 but in this case it will be'apparent that the flexing areas H3 of the elastomer covering IM act to dislodge collected material from between the diaphragm supporting members H5. The flexing areas or webs |3 extend between the diaphragm supporting members ||5 so that the latter are iirm in their support of the diaphragm.

.A further alternative is illustrated in Figure i3 with reference to the vspeciiic form of diaphragm supporting member employed. In this case the rigid core H6 having an elastomer covering H1, has a plurality of diaphragm supporting members H8 arranged in annular peripheral form and spaced apart by passageways or slots liti. This form of valve member may, of course, include the pneumatic feature described with reference to the forms of Figures l() and 12, and preferably would embody some means of locking the covering to the rigid core, such as suitable indentations (not shown) in the rigid core whereby the covering would be locked thereto,orthe radiused recess |253 above which is formed an annular sealing face |2011 in the elastomer covering thereby providing a necessary function on assembly of the valve with the diaphragm and ram components and also at the same time insuring a locking of the covering to the rigid core.

The associated components of the valve may be of slightly modified form in accordance with the teachings of my prior applications referred to. Thus in Figure 8 a through type of valve having a valve body with inlet and outlet openings |2| and |22 separated by the valve nozzle |23, acted upon by the valve member |24, carries a modified form of bonnet structure |25 clamping the diaphragm |26 thereto. In order to support the diaphragm in the open position the interior of the bonnet |25 `is provided with iin-- wardly directed webs l21, Athe y'lower surfaces of `which lare concave v-as shown, for :supporting the cuter side `of .the .diaphragm against pressure within the valve when v.the valve member .T122 is 'in Nopen position. fnetl'iis design the follower spiate .or follower i255 is ithe iformof an .independent .component and' 'ra- .dially esrtendmg `arms .ielhating arduate ,suie [faces ist Ydesigned .to engage upper fsnli'iiace ol'the diaphragm Alill when :tire valve lis the -`closed position. The ioilower :memb' r is Aas- :sembled "with the .diaphragm ,and valve member substantially as previously illustrated with the exception that it will be noted that what was formerly referred to as the pressure limiting bushing takes the form of a projection l! extending downwardly from the central region oi the follower member to engage the annular seat 132 in the rigid core |31) of the valve member. The core |33 of the valve member has an annular chamber |34 communicating by way of suitable holes 35 to an annular recess |36 to provide flexible Webs ll in the elastomer coating i3d in the manner previously described with reference to the valve forms o Figures and l2. It will be obvious that the specic form of the chambers need not be adhered to and that a simple annular chamber of limited depth underlying the covering in the upper region of the valve to retain any suitable compressible medium would be satisfactory in accordance with the principle outlined herein.

It will be appreciated that the valve member of the invention is capable of various forms as illustrated and described herein and yet further` alternatives and modications will be apparent to skilled persons which would not depart from the spirit of the invention. ln order to clearly set forth the factors involved in the design of a valve`inember according to the invention,fvar ious specic structures have been described in detail. It is desired that the descriptions and illustrations herein should not be construed in any limiting sense apart from that which may be indicated b-y the scope of the following claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

y 1. A valve member for a diaphragm valve comprising a rigid core, a centrally located, threaded recess in said core to enable said member to be mounted in a valve and to be locked to a diaphragm at its center, a rigid, narrow, annular pressure limiting seat formed about said recess. an annular recess formed in said rigid core immediately adjacent said annular pressure limiting seat, seat being between said threaded recess and said annular recess, an elastomer envelope on said core terminating around said pressure limiting seat whereby said core is completely sealed by said envelope when assembled in said valve, and an inverted frustro-conical recess formed by said envelope about said pressure limiting seat, a portion of said envelope extending inwardly to said annular recess to lock the envelope to said core.

2. A valve member for a diaphragm valve comprising a rigid core having means to enable said member to be mounted in a valve and to be locked to a diaphragm at its center, a hollow chamber formed in said core in open communication with theupper face thereof, an annular, rigid, pressure-limiting seat formed about said mounting y means, an elastomer covering extending about said rigid core and over the upper face thereof to terminate in an annular sealing face formed .zabcutfsaid pressure flimitingseat.. .andsai'd mount.-

ing. means-the portion. of ,the `.covering extending over the upper core surface in communication vwith said zhollow chamber constituting a exible .A Vvvalere .member .in accordance with claim A2 fincludingfnpstandmg spaced zinelnbers, :formed non the outer surface of that portion or' the feXib'le webroverlyiirgfgthe :upper core surface.

4. A valve member for a diaphragm Valve comprising a rigid core having a centrally located threadedrecess 'to enable said member to be mounted 'in avalve and to 'be looked to a diaphragm at its center, a narrow, annular, v,pres- ,S9313 immediately :adjacent fsa-id recess, and an annular recess surrounding said seat, said core being enveloped by a cover of material diiierlng from that of the core and capable of being extruded, said core having a plurality of channels positioned intermediate its outermost periphery and central axis and extending from one surface to another of said core, said material being extruded into said channels to form a plurality of bonding anchors connecting integrally with the material enveloping the core to form a homogeneously fused and mechanically tenacious bond between said extruded anchors and the enveloping material, said material substantially completely enveloping said core except for the aforesaid seat and threaded recess, a portion of the envelope extending inwardly to said annular recess to i'orm a cavity about said seat.

A valve member for a diaphragm valve comprising a hollow, rigid core, said core having means to enable said member to be mounted in a valve and to be locked to a diaphragm at its center, said member having a semi-spherical seat-engaging surface and a substantially convex diaphragm-supporting surface opposite thereto, said core being covered with a resilient covering extending to a locus adjacent the aforesaid means, said core being formed with orices in its diaphragm-supporting surface to provide substantial inwardly flexible areas of the covering.

6. A valve member for a diaphragm valve comprising a hollow, rigid core, said core having means to enable said member to be mounted in a valve and to be locked to a diaphragm at its center, said member having a semi-spherical seat-engaging surface and a substantially convex diaphragm-supporting surface opposite thereto, said member having a rigid core formedy with a hollow interior in communication with an annular channel on the diaphragm-supporting surface, a resilient covering on said core extending to a locus adjacent said means, and overlying said channel whereby to provide a substantial inwardly iiexible area of said covering.

7. A valve member for a diaphragm valve comprising a rigid core, a threaded recess in said core to enable said member to be mounted in a valve and to be locked to a diaphragm at its center, a shallow annular recess in said core formed about the outer end of said threaded recess, and a covering of chemically resistant material extending about said rigid core and terminating at said annular recess.

A valve member for a diaphragm valve comprising a rigid core, a recess in said core having a smaller diameter threaded hole at its base extending to the central portion of said core, the outer end of said threaded hole being surrounded by a rigid annular seat, and a covering or chemically resistant material, different from said core, extending about said rigid core and terminating around said seat to form thereabove an annular socket-like formation in the recess of said core.

9. A valve member in accordance with claim 7 in which the annular recess extends above the 5 threaded recess and the covering material extends into said recess to lock the covering to the core.

RONALD FORTUNE.

Name Date Weinman Nov. 17, 1874 15 Number Number 12 Name Date Peck Dec. 16, 1879 Kelly Nov. 28, 1882 Richardson Aug. 13, 1907 Jurgensen Jan. 31, 1911 Egerton Sept. 14, 1920 Ruegg June 14, 1927 Bulba Dec. 20, 1927 Slick Sept. 1, 1931 Gleason Jan. 10, 1933 Hagen Aug. 22, 1933 Langdon Dec. 5, 1939 Marchand June 2, 1942 

